Safety

1. Safety Section 21-31

2. Section 21 • In every factory the following, namely:- • (i) Every moving part of a prime mover and every flywheel connected to a prime mover, whether the prime mover or flywheel is in the engine house or not; • (ii) The headrace and tailrace of every water-wheel and water turbine; • (iii) Any part of a stock-bar which projects beyond the head stock of a lathe; and • (iv) Unless they are in such position or of such construction as to be safe to every person employed in the factory as they would be if they were securely fenced, the following, namely,- • (a) Every part of an electric generator, a motor or rotary converter;     (b) Every part of transmission machinery; and • (c) Every dangerous part of any other machinery;   Shall be securely fenced by safeguards of substantial construction which 1[shall be constantly maintained and kept in position] while the parts of machinery they are fencing are in motion or in use: • 2[Provided that for the purpose of determining whether any part of machinery is in such position or is of such construction as to be safe as aforesaid, account shall not be taken of any occasion when- • (i) • It is necessary to make an examination of any part of the machinery aforesaid while it is in motion or, as a result of such examination, to carry out lubrication or other adjusting operation while the machinery is in motion, being an examination or operation which it is necessary to be carried out while that part of the machinery is in motion, or • (ii) • In the case of any part of a transmission machinery used in such process as may be prescribed (being a process of a continuous nature the carrying on of which shall be, or is likely to be, substantially interfered with by the stoppage of that part of the machinery), it is necessary to make an examination of such part of tile machinery' while it is in motion or, as a result of such examination, to carry out any mounting or shipping of belts or lubrication or other adjusting operation while the machinery is in motion,   And such examination or operation is made or carried out in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (1) of section 22.] • (2) • The State Government may by rules prescribe such further precautions, as it may consider necessary in respect of any particular machinery or part thereof, or exempt, subject to such condition as may be prescribed, for securing the safety of the workers, any particular machinery or part thereof from the provisions of this section.

3. Section 22 • Work on or near machinery in motion. – • (1)1[Where in any factory it becomes necessary to examine any part of machinery referred to in section 21, while the machinery is in motion, or, as a result of such examination, to carry out- •   (a)In case referred to in clause (i) of the proviso to sub-section (1) of section 21 lubrication or other adjusting operation; or •   (b)In a case referred to in clause (ii) of the proviso aforesaid, any mounting or shipping of belts or lubrication or other adjusting operation, While the machinery is in motion, such examination or operation shall be made or carried out only by a specially trained adult male worker wearing tight fitting clothing (which shall be supplied by the occupier) whose name has been recorded in the register prescribed in this behalf and who has been furnished with a certificate of this appointment, and while he is so engaged,- •  (a) Such worker shall not handle a belt at a moving pulley unless- •     (i) The belt is not more than fifteen centimeter in width.   • (ii) The pulley is normally for the purpose of drive and not merely a fly-wheel or balance wheel (in which case a belt is not permissible);   • (iii) The belt joint is either laced or flush with the belt   • (iv) The belt, including the joint and the pulley rim, are in good repair; • (v) There is reasonable clearance between the pulley and any fixed plant or structure;   • (vi) Secure foothold and, where necessary, secure handhold, are provided for the operator; and   • (vii) Any ladder in use for carrying out any examination or operation aforesaid is securely fixed or lashed or is firmly held by a second person. • (b) Without prejudice to any other provision of this Act relating to the fencing of machinery, every set screw, bolt and key on any revolving shaft, spindle, wheel or pinion, and all spur, worm and other toothed or friction gearing in motion with which such worker would otherwise be liable to come into contact, shall be securely fenced to prevent such contact. 1 • [(2) No woman or young person shall be allowed to clean, lubricate or adjust any part of a prime mover or of any transmission machinery while the prime mover or of any transmission machinery is in motion, or to clean, lubricate or adjust any part of any machine if the cleaning, lubrication or adjustment thereof would expose the woman or young person to risk of injury from any moving part either of that machine or of any adjacent machinery.] • (3) The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, prohibit in any specified factory or class or description of factories, the cleaning, lubricating or adjusting by any person of specified parts of machinery when those parts are in motion

4. Section 23 • 23. Employment of young persons on dangerous machines. - • (1) No young person 2[shall be required or allowed to work] at any machine to which this section applies, unless he has been fully instructed as to the dangers arising in connection with the machine and the precautions to be observed and • (a) Has received sufficient training in work at the machine, or • (b) Is under adequate supervision by a person who has a thorough knowledge and experience of the machine. (2) • Sub-section (1) shall apply to such machines as may be prescribed by the State Government being machines which in its opinion are of such a dangerous character that young persons ought no to work at them unless the foregoing requirements are complied with. • 24. Striking gear and devices for cutting off power. - • (1) In every factory- •   (a) Suitable striking gear or other efficient mechanical appliance shall be provided and maintained and used to move driving belts to and from fast and loose pulleys which from part of the transmission machinery and such gear or appliances shall be so constructed, placed and maintained as to prevent the belt from creeping back on the fast pulley; • (b) Driving belts when not in use shall not be allowed to rest or ride upon shafting in motion. • (2) In every factory suitable devices for cutting off power in emergencies from running machinery shall be provided and maintained in every workroom: • Provided that in respect of factories in operation before the commencement of this Act, the provisions of this sub-section shall apply only to workrooms in which electricity is used as power • 1[(3) When a device, which can inadvertently shift from "off' to "on" position, is provided in a factory to cut off power, arrangements shall be provided for locking the device in safe position to prevent accidental starting of the transmission machinery or other machines to which the device is fitted].

5. Section 25 • 25. Self-acting machines. - • No traversing part of a self-acting machine in any factory and no material carried thereon shall, if the space over which it runs is a space over which any person is liable to pass, whether in the course of his employment or otherwise, be allowed to run on its outward or inward traverse within a distance of 2[forty-five centimeters] from any fixed structure which is not part of the machine: • Provided that the Chief Inspector may permit the continued use of a machine installed before the commencement of this Act which does not comply with the requirements of this section on such conditions for ensuring safety as he may think fit to impose.

6. Section 26 • 26. Casing of new machinery. - • (1) In all machinery driven by power and installed in any factory after the commencement of this Act,- • (a) Every set screw Bolt or key on any revolving shaft, spindle, wheel or pinion shall be so sunk encased or otherwise effectively guarded as to prevent danger: • (b) All spur, worm and other toothed or friction gearing which does not require frequent adjustment while in motion shall be completely encased, unless it is so situated as to be as safe as it would be if it were completely encased • (2) Whoever sells or lets on hire or, as agent of a seller or hirer, causes or procures to be sold or let on hire, for use in a factory any machinery driven by power which does not comply with the provisions of 3[sub-section (I) or any rules mc1de under sub-section (3)], shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees or with both. • 4[(3) The State Government may make rules specifying further safeguards to be provided in respect of any other dangerous part of any particular machine or class or description of machines.]

7. Section 27 • Prohibition of employment of women and children near cotton-openers. - • No women or child shall be employed in any part of a factory for pressing cotton in which a cotton opener is at work: • Provided that if the feed-end of a cotton-opener is in a room separated from the delivery end by a partition extending to the roof or to such height as the Inspector may in any particular case specify in writing, women and children may be employed on the side of the partition where the feed-end is situated.

8. Section 28 • 28. Hoists and lifts. - • (1) In every factory- • (a)Every hoist and lift shall be-   • (i) Of good mechanical construction, sound material and adequate strength;   • (ii)Properly maintained, and shall be thoroughly examined by a competent person at least once in every period of six months, and a register shall be kept containing the prescribed particulars of every such examination •   (b) Every hoistway and liftway shall be sufficiently protected by an enclosure fitted with gates, and the hoist or lift and every such enclosure shall be so constructed as to prevent any person or thing from being trapped between any part of tile hoist or lift and any fixed structure or moving part; • (c) The maximum safe working load shall be plainly marked on every hoist of lift, and no load greater than such load shall be carried thereon. •   (d) The cage of every hoist or lift used for carrying persons shall be fitted with a gate on each side from which access is afforded to a landing;   • (e) Every gate referred to in clause (b) or clause (d) shall be fitted with inter- locking or other efficient device to secure that the gate cannot be opened except when the cage is at the landing and that the cage cannot be moved unless the gate is closed. • (2) The following additional requirements shall apply to hoists and lifts used for carrying persons and installed or reconstructed in a factory after the commencement of this Act, namely:- •   (a) Where the cage is supported by rope or chain, there shall be at least two ropes of chains separately connected with the cage and balance weight, and each rope or chain with its attachments shall be capable of carrying the whole weight of the cage together with its maximum load: •   (b) Efficient devices shall be provided and maintained capable of supporting the cage together with its maximum load in the event of breakage of the ropes, chains or attachments;   • (c) An efficient automatic device shall be provided and maintained to prevent the cage from over-running • (3)The Chief Inspector may permit tile continued, use of a hoist of lift installed in a factory before the commencement of this Act which does not fully comply with the provisions of sub-section (1) upon such conditions for ensuring safety as he may think fit to impose • (4) The State Government may, if in respect of any class or description of hoist or lift, it is of opinion that it would be unreasonable to enforce any requirement of sub-sections (1) and (2), by order direct that such requirement shall not apply to such class or description of hoist or lift.

9. Section 29 • 2[29. Lifting machines, chains, ropes and lifting tackle. - • (1) In any factory the following provisions shall be complied with in respect of every lifting machine (other than a hoist and lift) and every chain, rope and lifting tackle for the purpose of raising or lowering persons, goods or materials • (a) All parts, including the working gear, whether fixed or movable, of every lifting machine and every chain, rope or lifting tackle shall be-   • (i) Of good construction, sound material and adequate strength and free from defects; • (ii) Properly maintained; and • (iii) thoroughly examined by a competent person at least once in every period of twelve months, or at such intervals as the Chief Inspector may specify in writing; and a register shall be kept containing the prescribed particulars of every such examination;   • (b) No lifting machine and no chain, rope or lifting tackle shall, except for the purpose of test be loaded beyond the safe working load which shall be plainly marked thereon together with an identification mark and duly entered in tile prescribed register; and where this is not practicable, a table showing tile safe working loads of every kind and size of lifting machine or chain, rope or lifting tackle in use shall be displayed in prominent positions on the premises; • (c) While any person is employed or working on or near the wheel track of a traveling crane in any place where he would be liable to be struck by the crane effective measures shall be taken to ensure that the crane does not approach within 3[six metres] of that place. (2) • The State Government may make rules in respect of any lifting machine or any chain, rope or lifting tackle used in factories- • (a) Prescribing further requirements to be complied with in addition to those set out in this section; • (b) Providing for exemption from compliance with all or any of the requirements of this section, where in its opinion, such compliance is unnecessary or impracticable. • (3) For the purposes of this section a lifting machine or a chain, rope or lifting tackle shall be deemed to have been thoroughly examined if a visual examination supplemented, if necessary by other means and by the dismantling of parts of the gear, has been carried out as carefully as the conditions permit in order to arrive at a reliable conclusion as to the safety of tile parts examined.

10. Section 30 • 30. Revolving machinery. – • (1) 2[In every factory] in which the process of grinding is carried on there shall be permanently affixed to or placed near each machine in use a notice indicating the maximum safe working peripheral speed of every grindstone or abrasive wheel, the speed of the shaft or spindle upon which the wheel is mounted, and the diameter of the pulley upon such shaft or spindle necessary to secure such safe working peripheral speed. • (2) The speeds indicated in notices under sub-section (1) shall not be exceeded. • (3) Effective measures shall be taken in every factory to ensure that the safe working peripheral speed of every revolving vessel, cage, basket, fly-wheel, pulley, disc or similar appliance driven by power is not exceeded.

11. Section 31 • 31. Pressure plant.- • 3[(1) If in any factory, any plant or machinery or any part thereof is operated at a pressure above atmospheric pressure, effective measures shall be taken to ensure that the safe working pressure of such plant or machinery or part is not exceeded.] • (2) The State Government may make rules providing for the examination and testing of any plant or machinery such as is referred to in sub-section (I) and prescribing such other safety measures in relation thereto as may in its opinion be necessary in any factory or class or description of factories. • 4[(3) The State Government may, by rules, exempt, subject to such conditions as may be specified therein, any part of any plant or machinery referred to in sub-section (I) from the provisions of this section.]